Q. I'm working on digitizing family pictures that I have taken over the
years. What form of physical media should I use to store them for my
children and grand-children?

A. The current thinking is that optical media (CDs and DVDs) will be
forward-compatible for the foreseeable future. They are so ubiquitous that
it is generally thought that any "new and improved" storage system will have
to allow for an easy transfer of files to the new media. After all, photos
taken during the civil war are still being found, developed and digitized
today.

Optical media is the best that we have in terms of permanence at the present
time. Most experts think that optical media might have a realistic shelf
life of 10-25 years - much less if they're exposed to light or stored
improperly. Under ideal conditions, they could last as long as 50 years.
However, any of these numbers are guesses at best because optical media is a
relative newcomer to the scene. While CDs generally became available for
computers about 1985, there have been constant improvements in materials and
procedures since that time and there is simply no dependable data as to
present-day media's actual storage life.

Assuming you scan your photos and slides to an optical disc, you should make
up several copies using high-quality discs of different brands. The quality
of optical media varies greatly and this will reduce the possibility that
you might run into a bad batch of discs. Discs should be stored vertically
in a cool, dry place. You MUST keep them out of direct sunlight because that
will fade the dyes used for the "burning" process. Then distribute the media
to all interested relatives so there will be many copies of your photos in
different locations.

Perhaps you might think about using "cloud storage" for your precious photos
instead of optical media. Factors to consider for this alternative would be
the reputation of the storage company used and how secure they will be in
protecting your files. Companies such as these often go out of business
without warning, so remember to choose wisely.

Published: Courier 4/6/14 - Page 3C

This article has been written by a PCS member and was published in "The Daily Courier"
of Prescott, Arizona on the date listed above. While current when
written, these articles may contain outdated information and you should
check with other sources prior to relying on the article's contents.